John c



:J. a. WILSON.

(No Model.)

SIGNAL BOX.

'Patente-d Mar. 17, 1891.

UNITED STATES BATENT OFFIC JOl [N C. WILSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MUNICIPAL SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

SIGNAL-BOX.

SFECIFICATiON forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,399, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed May 17, 1887- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G. WILSON, of Boston, county of Sulfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Signal-Boxes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and fig- -ures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has foritsobjectto construct a-multiple-signal-transmittin'g apparatus for signal-boxes,it being especially applicable for police-signaling purposes.

In accordance with this invention the signaling-surfaces are made of notched'or toothed strips secured to'and projecting from a drum in a line parallel with the axis of the drum, and a contact-pen is secured to a rotatable shaft and adapted to sweep over the signaling-surfaces lying or brought into the path of movement of the pen. A suitable motor mechanism is'employed for rotating the contact .pen, which is set in operation by a startinglever. A locking and releasing device is em ployed for the drum carrying the signalingsurfaces'for locking the drum to present any desired signaling-surface to the pen and for releasing the said locking device, permitting the drum to resume its normal position.

Figure 1 shows in'front elevation a signalbox having a signal-transmitting mechanism,

shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2, a side view of the signal-transmitting mechanism, andFigs. 3 and 4 modifications to be referred to.

The contact-pen ais fixed to the outerend of a shaft a having its hearings in a suitable frame-work secured within the box or case A. The shaft a is rotated by a motor mechanism,

herein shown as comprising a pinion 2, fixed to the shaft a, and driven bya toothed wheel 3, fixed to a shaft 4, upon which shaft is mounted the mainspring and ratchet-clutch- .mechanism, whereby-the said shaft may be turned in one direction to wind the motor and released to return to its normal position to drive the motor. A suitable scape-wheel, as

"5,is' fixed to the shaft a to regulate the speed of the motor.

The crank-arm 6 is fixed to the winding shaft 4, which arm is, connected by a link 7 with one endfof an actuating-lever 8, pivoted Serial No- 238,459. (No model.)

at 9, the opposite end of the actuating-lever having a finger-piece 10, the shank of which follows in a slot 12, cut in the face-plate of the box. The smooth-face leading-Wheel l3 isfixed to the shaft or, upon which bears a pen 14. The drum or cylinder 0 is fixed to a .shaft 0', to the outer end of which shaft a pointer p is secured, so that by turning the pointer the drum will be rotated.

The signaling-surfaces, herein shown as ir- 60 regular toothed or notched s1 rips 0 are fixed to the drum or cylinder 0, extended lengthwise thereof; but, if desired, the said surfaces may be formed as projections or studs secured to or made integral with the cylinder c, as

shown in Fig. 3. I

The axis of rotation of the cylinder 0 is at right angles with relation to the axis of rotation of the contact-pen, and one or another signaling-surface will be brought into the path of movement of the said pen as the cylinder is revolved.

The face of the box is marked oif or graduated to serve as a dial,over which the pointer travels to thus indicate which signal shall be transmitted.

A toothed wheel 2 is fixed to the shaft 0'',

and a latch 'i, pivoted to the frame-work, is

provided at one end with a friction-roller,

which enters between the teeth of the wheel 13, the said latch being normally held ingengagement with the wheel by aspring 2' The latch 11' is moved to disengage the-toothed wheel 2' by a bentcrod 1' pivoted at t, and

provided with a hooked end, which bears upon 8 5 the outer end of the latch.

The toothed wheel 3 of themotor mechanism isoprovided with a series of pins or studs n at equal distances apart, which in the rotation of the said wheel strike the rod 2" and 0 9 The'studs are arranged upon the face of the wheel 3 to eifect the releasing of the latch 11 just after the signal has been transmitted, so that the drum will be held in ,fixed position while the signal is being sent, but will be re I00 leased as soon as it has been sent to thereby return the drum and pointer to its normal position.

Some of the features herein shown are substantially such as shown and described by me in other applications filed concurrently with this, Serial Nos. 238,458 and 238,460, and such features I do not herein claim.

r While the signal-transmitter shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is adapted for an open circuit, it

may and preferably will be modified to be applicable to a closed circuit, which modification Iv consider comes within the scope of my in- 2. In a signal-box, the contact-pen,a motor mechanism for rotating it, the signal-drum i, latch 41', rod 71 and the wheel 3, having the studs 01. thereon, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box, a multiple-signal trans- I mitter comprising the contact-pen, a revoluble shaft a, to which it is fixed, a cylinder with parallel sides having thereon longitudinally-arranged signaling-surfaces, the axis of rotation of which cylinder is at right angles to the axis of .rotation of the shaft 0/, the pen being arranged tangentially to the cylinder, and means for revolving said cylinder to bring one or another signaling-surface into the tially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. WILSON.

' Witnesses:

BERNICE J. NOYES,

FRED L. EMERY.

plane of rotation of the contact-pemsebstam and means forrot-ating'it, the toothed wheel 7 

